Following the Indianapolis debacle, race organizers at Magny Cours and Silverstone are keen to make it clear that there will be no repeats, and that as far as race action is concerned, it will be business as usual.

A statement released by the organizers of the French event read: "We have received guarantees from Michelin that the technical problems they had at the U.S. Grand Prix would not happen at Magny-Cours. The problems at Indianapolis were caused by the specific nature of that track, they added."

Meanwhile, organizers of the Silverstone race - due to be held one week later - were equally keen to get their message across.

"We have been advised that the tyre problems experienced by a number of Michelin shod Formula One teams at the United States Grand Prix were due to a combination of the track surface and the unique high speed configuration of the banked and walled Indianapolis circuit," said Alex Hooton, Chief Executive of the BRDC, owners of Silverstone Circuits Limited.

"The banked corners are a feature of the Indianapolis circuit and are a one-off in Formula One. The problems that arose as a direct result of the banking at turn 13 should not be experienced at any other circuit.

"While Silverstone is one of the fastest circuits in the world, the configuration of the Grand Prix circuit does not place the tyres under the pressure levels they had to withstand in Indianapolis."

The French, in particular have worked tirelessly, and with great imagination, in order to sell the event to the French public, including selling tickets at local tobacconists. It would be highly regrettable if, following the shambles at Indianapolis, this were to have a negative effect.